Public Statements

Crowley Offers Motion to End Republican Hypocrisy over Their Own Government Health Care

Press Release

Today, Congressman Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), one of nine chief deputy whips, led the Democrats' charge against Republican hypocrisy by offering a measure to require members of Congress to disclose whether they are benefiting from government-sponsored health care. Republicans blocked the Crowley proposal by a vote of 240 to 191 during consideration of the Republican Rules Package for the 112th Congress.

"Just one hour after Republicans claimed they were increasing transparency and accountability in government, they voted unanimously to conceal whether they themselves are receiving government-sponsored health care. It is the height of hypocrisy for Republicans to be asking the American people to give up access to high-quality, affordable health insurance, but unwilling to disclose whether they will be taking part in taxpayer-subsidized health care," said Congressman Crowley.

Through the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP), as with most employer-provided care, members of Congress choose the plan that works best for their families from a variety of private insurance plans. The Affordable Care Act was designed to provide the same choice and competition to Americans who do not have access to affordable coverage, such as many self-employed and small business employees. The Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a vote to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act on January 12th.

Crowley added, "Republicans have made the repeal of health insurance reform their first order of business--not job creation, not economic recovery. But today, they added insult to injury when they rejected my motion to require all members of Congress to disclose whether they will personally benefit from taxpayer-subsidized health care by enrolling in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. This vote put the American public on notice that the Republican party is not looking out for them."